Grass Valley East Dike dam
Grass Valley East Dike
Grass Valley East Dike, also known as Harvey Gap East Dike, is a vital structure located in Garfield County, Colorado, near the city of New Castle. The dike serves the primary purpose of irrigation, harnessing water from the West Elk Creek-OS for agricultural use. Constructed in 1946, this Earth-type dam stands at a height of 12 feet and has a hydraulic height of 10 feet, with a length of 450 feet and a storage capacity of 2091 acre-feet.
With a significant hazard potential and fair condition assessment, Grass Valley East Dike is regulated by the Colorado Department of Water Resources (DWR) and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity. The dam's spillway, with a width of 15 feet, is uncontrolled, and the maximum discharge capacity is 462 cubic feet per second. Despite its moderate risk rating, the dike has been deemed to meet safety guidelines, although further risk management measures may be necessary in the future to mitigate potential hazards.
As a crucial component of the local water resource infrastructure, Grass Valley East Dike plays a crucial role in supporting agricultural activities in the region. With its stone core and rock foundations, this dam represents a key element in water management for the area, providing essential irrigation resources for farmers and contributing to the overall sustainability of the ecosystem.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Grass Valley East Dike -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado River Below Glenwood Springs | 1,770 cfs | → |
| Roaring Fork River At Glenwood Springs | 655 cfs | → |
| West Divide Creek Near Raven | 34 cfs | → |
| White River Below North Elk Creek Near Buford | 477 cfs | → |
| White River Above Coal Creek | 183 cfs | → |
| White River Near Meeker | 230 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Grass Valley East Dike.
⚓ Boat launches
More boat launches →⛺ Campgrounds
- West Elk Ridge Camp
- West Elk Area Campsite
- Tiki Mine Camp
- Rifle Falls State Park
- Rifle Gap State Park
- Cedar Campground
🎣 Fishing spots
- Harvey Gap Reservoir
- Rifle Gap Reservoir
- Meadow Creek Lake
- Meadow Lake Picnic Area
- Deep Lake Fishing/Picnic Area Fishing Site
- Lake Avery
🛶 Paddle runs
More paddle runs →Track Grass Valley East Dike in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Grass Valley East Dike
Where does the data for Grass Valley East Dike come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Significant hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Grass Valley East Dike.